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Looking for encouragement to do PL simply.

Ronisdragon

Ronisdragon

Why can't someday be now?
Joined
Jan 19, 2012
Messages
717
One of the main things that drew me to project life was its simplicity. I figured I could take some photos, do some journaling, and put everything in a pocket. Easy, no fuss no muss. I'm a perfectionist and I stress over everything. I thought this could take away some of the stress of creating a layout. I just got my page protectors. I printed out two weeks of photos and I'm trying to figure out what to do for my journaling cards for those pictures. Looking at everyone's pages, they are beautiful and layered and complex. Does anyone keep it simple? Now I'm rethinking my plan for simplicity because I feel like I have to create a masterpiece like all of you! Now this is feeling stressful. Could anyone share feedback or photos of a PL layout you kept simple that came out pretty? I am printing my photos at the camera store and creating journaling cards on the computer with some TLP products of course and printing those to put in pockets. Do you have any five second hassle free tips for jazzing up a page. I was going to try washi tape. Less than 5 seconds to tear a piece and stick it down. Any other simple ideas? I'm trying to let go of the masterpiece spend many hours per layout mindset. Thanks so much!
 
The way I see this project is that it is to get those memories documented. That's its beauty. Embellishments or not, what matters to me are the memories. Get rid of the pressure and just do it the way that works for you!

I do love to print out digi goodies from the store here - it makes the spread more personal for me. Washi tape is really my go to thing - perfect to adhere photos to a card and to add some color. I also love to add stitching but I don't always pull out the sewing machine, it depends on the inspiration. :)

I think that this side of last week's spread was really simple:

{image linked to my blog so you can see the whole spread}

I used some of the journaling cards from the kit and embellished them with elements from the Grandma's Dresser kit by Sahlin Studio. Super easy and pretty. It doesn't get much simpler than that!
 
I keep my pages very simple, I try to do the pictures and journaling first and then if I feel like it and if there is room for some embellishment I go for it, if not no biggie.
 
I'm doing mine digital, but I just decided this week to simplify. I could feel myself getting stressed trying to make a masterpiece each week. I'm in awe of the detail work that so many are doing. :)
 
An easy way to jazz up a page: use fonts you'd never think of using beforehand. Silly, classy, funky, whatever. Shake it up! It doesn't all have to be matchy-matchy.

Use one color palette (or kit) or turn all your photos into B&W to simplify the color decisions.

Also, use this Mantra that writers use: it's only a rough draft, it can be fixed later. What this is, is a way to shut down your inner critic by placing less importance on what you're doing *now*, with the realization that you can *go back* and fancy it up or change it out if you find you need to do more. In the meantime, just get the story/words/pictures down, and try and put the worry about all the extra until a week or later. And then go back and "edit" if you need to. How do I know this? I was the ML for NaNoWriMo for the Los Angeles area for two years.

There is no such thing as failure in a creative enterprise like Project Life, or anything creative.
 
My pages are all pretty simple. You can see them on my blog. I tend to be a perfectionist too. But seriously, there's 52 weeks here and if I start to get complicated or want to be like someone else, or seek perfection, then I know it's not going to happen for me. My desire to get it done and to enjoy it has overridden my perfectionism.
 
Roni...look here on Becky Higgins Blog
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2012/02/our-creative-team-does-it-again-february-edition/

She shows some of her creative team members and others in the community that are doing simple pages. She has links to their blogs too so you can get inspiration.

My paper pages WILL be simple. That's all there is to it. I don't have a lot of physical products or the know-how to do elaborate paper pages. I just got my protectors, but haven't had a moment to spread my stuff out and play. Hopefully I'll get to it soon!

another link from Becky:
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2012/01/project-life-in-its-most-basic-form/
 
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Isn't that what all those super cute journal notecards are for? Easy for me to say I am not doing PL. It seems to me that the kids just like looking at their pics no matter what trouble you go to at making a lo anyway. Just a thought. Good luck.
 
aballen said:
I keep my pages very simple, I try to do the pictures and journaling first and then if I feel like it and if there is room for some embellishment I go for it, if not no biggie.
Click to expand...

This is exactly how I operate too. I didn't buy a core kit (even though I was SO tempted) b/c my goal is to actually use all the paper I already own! Now that the grid cards have arrived (finally!) I have been able to finalize my past weeks. I did start out thinking it was all so plain & simple. I LOVE seeing what others are doing and I want that look, but it doesn't necessarily come easy to me. But as I really started getting into it I found my own way. When a card has room on it, I put washi tape on it. LOL If I have a picture that is smaller (instagram, etc) I use the white space for the date, or a little stamp. I have a couple of smash pads that are quick grabs to use as the background for a smaller pic too. I keep stuff that will work great w/PL right in front of me as I work, otherwise I'll just forget I have it. I find that I'm not using a ton of 4x6 photos so many times 2 3x4 things will go into a 4x6 slot (design A). In those cases I'll try to remember to mount them on some color or pattern paper, just to add a little color. I use a LOT of 4x6 index cards... so cheap & easy to use. But they are plain so I stamp the date on them in the extra space or again, add a quick sticker or stamp. I also already own a TON of ribbon, but it's in a cabinet behind me, so out of sight-out of mind. I just remembered it and used a little yesterday, just stapled it down in some white space on a card w/the tiny attacher. Done. LOVE the tiny attacher!!

So in the end my album is turning out a little more simple than I thought it would be when I envisioned it but I'm fine with that! I am taking & using way more pics than I thought and I'm journaling more so there really isn't a lot of room for extras, but the pics & the story are the important things, so that's what I focus on.

I totally hear you! I can easily set my own traps by letting myself get overwhelmed but when I started to feel that way over the last couple weeks, I just forced myself to keep going. I love the idea of reminding yourself that this stuff is SO easy to "fix" later if you really feel the need. It takes the pressure off while you are working on a particular week but I bet in the end there is very little I'll go back to change. I think it will help me to learn how to move on already!! LOL

Good luck!!! :)
 
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I bought the core kit and a bunch of physical "stuff" in anticipation. It turns out I'm really only using the 4x6 title cards and one of the other journaling cards just once in a while. I'm printing photos ON my digi journaling cards and typing text on them. I'm using 4x6 cards to type my week in review etc.

I am stapling on a few tickets if I have them but that's about it for much physical stuff. I am using those 4x6 title cards to be paper supply creative, a brad or two, a paper flower or two or ribbon but only for one card a week. I'm finding that is what is working for me. I guess I'm just too far over on the digi "dark side" to enjoy much of the paper stuff anymore. I do LOVE the divided page protector as a way to separate my stories though.
 
mine is really simple. you can check it out on my blog. the whole reason i'm doing this is so that i capture little things that wouldn't necessarily make it on to a page. i also am using the photos i took even if they aren't perfect. i'm doing it digitally which i think makes it even easier.

http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-life-week-7.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-life-week-6.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-life-week-5.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-life-week-4.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-life-week-3.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/01/second-saturday-project-life-week-two.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-life-week-one.html
http://celestefs.blogspot.com/2011/12/jumpin-on-project-life-bandwagon.html
 
Love your pages Celeste!

I've been trying to keep it simple as well. Honestly, it's taken me 5 weeks to find my groove and style. I kept trying to make it look like a regular scrapbook layout and it's not! Once I found my focus and reason to do this album (to capture the everyday things) it became much easier. I also bookmarked blogs of gals that have embraced a similar style as mine and use them as inspiration. :)
 
These pages are all so beautiful and I love the simplicity! Celeste, your white borders look great! I thought I would skip rounding the corners and after seeing your pages I've decided I really like it better without rounded corners. So many of you have tons of photos. I have no idea what to take photos of. I don't have kids and I'm not working right now so I spend most of my day at home. There are only so many pictures I can take of my livingroom and my pets. Lol. I'm planning to include new recipes I try, books I read, shows I watch etc. it still doesn't seem like it would be enough photos. I need more excitement in my life. These are all such great examples of simply done beautiful PL pages! Thanks all for your ideas!
 
javamonster said:
Also, use this Mantra that writers use: it's only a rough draft, it can be fixed later. What this is, is a way to shut down your inner critic by placing less importance on what you're doing *now*, with the realization that you can *go back* and fancy it up or change it out if you find you need to do more. In the meantime, just get the story/words/pictures down, and try and put the worry about all the extra until a week or later. And then go back and "edit" if you need to. How do I know this? I was the ML for NaNoWriMo for the Los Angeles area for two years.

There is no such thing as failure in a creative enterprise like Project Life, or anything creative.
Click to expand...

Well said!
 
I have been keeping my pages simple. The whole reason I decided to do PL was so that I could document the everyday and not have to make it like my scrapbooking pages. I do something different every week. Rounded corners, not rounded, different pocket sizes, different fonts, and both digitally printed and paper products. I like that there aren't any rules and you can make it your own. I am overwhelmed by some of the creations I see - they can be so amazing, but I don't have the time to make my pages complex or artsy.
 
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